MLB Network Sets Offseason Programming Roster

With the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals knotted at two games apiece, the 2011 World Series is heading toward an exciting conclusion. For its part, MLB Network is ready to buttress its off-season weekday programming lineup, featuring the first pitch of the service's first-ever analytics-based studio show Clubhouse Confidential, hosted by Brian Kenny, on Monday, Nov. 7, and the return of Hot Stove and Intentional Talk on Halloween.As sabermetrics continually rise to the forefront of many baseball conversations, Clubhouse Confidential aspires to serve as an open forum to discuss and debate the day's news and moves using modern statistical research and value projection. Segments -- "High Heat," "The Showdown," and "It's Not What You Think" -- will seek differing opinions through pointed questions, going against conventional wisdom and reaching conclusions in the new age of baseball analytics. Working off the news of the day, Clubhouse Confidential will regularly feature contributors from the sabermetrics community as well as MLB Network's own hosts, analysts and insiders. Viewers will be able to interact with Kenny via the show's Twitter feed, @CHConfidential, and on MLB Network's Facebook page. "Given the increasing use of sabermetrics throughout baseball, we knew we wanted to develop a studio show with Brian Kenny that approaches baseball from this school of thought," said Tony Petitti, president and CEO of MLB Network, in announcing the new series. "There is no other program on the air that is dedicated to covering baseball this way and we're excited to present fans with a platform for this perspective."Hot Stove, MLBN's nightly offseason studio show, returns to the dish weeknights at 6 p.m. (ET) on Monday, Oct. 31, bringing fans the latest information on rumors, moves and trades as all 30 clubs prepare for spring training 2012.Launched last April, Intentional Talk will continue to feature Chris Rose and Kevin Millar delivering MLBN's 30-minute talk show weekdays at 5 p.m. throughout the offseason. With the addition of Clubhouse Confidential and Intentional Talk, MLBN's offseason lineup now includes five more hours of original studio programming each week. Aong with the new season of Hot Stove and new episodes of MLB Network Countdown, which returns on Wednesday, Nov. 2. MLBN's 2011-2012 offseason weekday programming lineup is as flollows: 5 p.m.: Intentional Talk 5:30 p.m.: Clubhouse Confidential 6 p.m.: Hot Stove 7 p.m.: Intentional Talk 7:30 p.m.: Clubhouse Confidential 8 p.m.: Hot Stove